Culture Vacuum
By Samuel Polay
Culture VacuumNov 06, 2019
Paramount+ Launch Plus
2021 Streaming Wars Preview
HBO Max Changes the Game
The PS5 is Here!
A Phone and A President
Apple iPhone Event (2020)
Ep. 69: Apple and Epic enter the Fandome
68: Peacock and Xbox
Samuel gives a brief review of Peacock, the worst streaming launch of the year, and then him and Calvin discuss Microsoft's Exclusive Games event.
Ep. 67: WWDC 2020
Ep.66: PS5 Launch and the State of Next Gen Consoles
Sony has now revealed a ton more information about the PlayStation 5, including what games to expect as well as the design. So this week, we take a lot of time to break down where both next-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft are leading up to their launches this holiday season, as well as speculate about what customers can expect. Also, Samuel breaks down why most console buyers may want to buy a new TV to take advantage of the new hardware. And, of course, we give our guesses as to what the consoles will cost.
Ep. 65: HBO Max Launch (Black Lives Matter)
Total honesty, it felt weird talking about the atrocious behavior of violent cops and how they abuse the black community in the same hour we talked about HBO Max, but we felt we’d be doing a disservice not talking about the change in our country that has followed the murder of George Floyd.
So yes, we spend a lot of time talking about something you may not want to hear about, and then awkwardly pivot to talking about a streaming service. We understand if you may not be along for that ride.
Please donate to the bail project or a similar organization fighting for true justice.
Ep. 64: Joe Rogan’s Snyder Cut
Ep. 63: Mostly Tech Stuff
Ep. 62: A Hodge Podge
Ep. 61: Devs Review
Ep. 60: The Quibis have Landed
Samuel and Calvin are joined by Ricky Hayberg of the youtube channel “Internet Today” to discuss the launch of Quibi as Culture Vacuum’s coverage of the streaming wars continues.
Ep. 59: Tiger King
Ep. 58: The Bidet Apocalypse
Ep.57: We've Gone Viral (Season 4 Premiere)
What better way to start the new season than with a global pandemic. Hold on to your butts and wash your hands.
The 2020 Oscar Nominees are In...!
Tune in for the results of our Oscar Nomination predictions and our thoughts on the nominees as a whole in this little bonus episode. Season 4 coming in February
Ep. 56: Season 3 Finale-The Best (and Worst) of 2019
Samuel and Michael discuss their favorite and least favorite movies and TV shows of the year ahead of the Oscar Nominations next week. Thank you for an incredible season 3!
Ep. 55: The Year in Gaming (2019)
Samuel and Calvin break down the year in gaming: notable titles, big industry shifts and trends, and what to look forward to with the next generation of home consoles just around the corner. They also talk about Apple's new Mac Pro and the importance of it to a very specific set of people.
Ep. 54: Predicting the Oscars Nominations
Michael is back in the guest seat as he and Samuel try to predict the nominees for the 2020 Academy Awards. Plus! An open letter to Star Wars Fans.
Ep.53 Disney+ Launch and Parasite
Ep. 52: Apple TV+ Launch Review
Samuel and Calvin talk about the AirPods Pro and PC gaming before reviewing the launch lineup of Apple TV+ as the streaming wars start. Is Dickinson the hot new teen dramedy? Is See the next Game of Thrones? Will For All Mankind set a new standard for historical fiction? Will the Morning Show score Apple the Emmy gold they seek? Are these questions hyperbolic and miss the real importance of what this service means? Tune in! Find out!
Ep.51: The Politician
Michael joins us again to fill in for Calvin this week to talk Netflix's The Politician and revive he and Samuel's usual brand of disorganized wonder.
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Ep.50: Joker's Society Movie
It's the Joker review. It's the fiftieth episode. It's an episode with Michael as a guest. It's the one where there is indeed a society that is discussed to figure out if people live in it. And also all the bad Joker impressions are saved for the end. Thanks for listening fellow society members.
Ep.49: The One Where Kevin Feige Had a Good Week
This is more of a rambling episode in which Samuel and Calvin talk about the new iPhone cameras, Kevin Feige's announced Star Wars project, and Spider-Man's reentry into the MCU.
Ep.48: Apple TV+ and Carnival Row
Apple has more details on their forthcoming streaming service that may just make it worth checking out, and Amazon has the first of many forthcoming expensive fantasy shows out now with "Carnival Row." Come and see if they're worth your time on an all new Culture Vacuum.
Ep.47: D23 and Mindhunter Season 2
Samuel and Calvin break down all the spicy Disney+ news out of the D23 convention and review the second season of Netflix's Mindhunter.
Ep.46: BIG SPIDER-MAN NEWS!?
OHHHHHHHHH boy do we have stuff to talk about this week. Disney sabotaged their Spider-man deal with Sony like they were trying to win a Chinese Trade War, Apple TV+ has a price and rumored release date, 20th Century Fox is likely shut down because Dark Phoenix bombed so hard. It's an all news episode of Culture Vacuum, and Samuel and Calvin are here to help you digest.
Ep. 45: Me and Hobbs and Shaw and THE BOYS!
Samuel and Calvin jump deep into the stupid with "Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw" but climb out into the lightening with Amazon Prime's "The Boys." I don't know if you know, but those super heroes sure do live in a society.
Ep. 44: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
There's a mix of rambling regarding Comic-con, the Lion King, and cults before Samuel and Calvin get into their conversation around Quentin Tarantino's latest opus "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" (spoilers they loved it). You should know the drill at this point though.
Bonus Interview: The Snyder Cut
Samuel sits down to talk with an organizer of the online "Release the Snyder Cut" campaign.
Ep. 43: San Diego Comic Con 2019 but Mostly Marvel
Shorter episode this week. Samuel sat down with his friend Andrew to discuss the Marvel panel and Comic Con this year and the show and movie announcements they felt were the standouts this year. Lady Thor! WandaVision! And much more.
Ep. 42: Chernobyl
Samuel and Calvin cover the other likely winner of Best Limited Series at the Emmys this year, HBO's Chernobyl. They discuss the history around the show, the creators...interesting career path, and the way the show highlights the dangers of fanaticism for any ideology. Tune in and be sure to watch Chernobyl if you haven't because it's a good one.
Ep. 41: Spider-Man Far From Home
Samuel and Calvin get right down to business to share their thoughts on Spider-Man: Far From Home, what it means for the MCU, how it further highlights the dynamics of the Marvel/Sony relationship, and of course if it was any good.
Ep. 40: Toy Story 4
Samuel and Calvin discuss the terrible year at the box office being had by every studio not named Disney and then review the latest Pixar film, Toy Story 4. Tears were shed, goodbyes were made, and lots of money was fed to the terrifying conglomerate slowly devouring the world. Everything is fine on the latest episode of Culture Vacuum.
Ep. 39: When They See Us
This episode deals with more serious subject matter towards the end. In the first half, Samuel and Calvin talk about more details that have come to light for the Warner Media streaming service and touch on some of the updates for the upcoming crop of game streaming services out of E3 like Google Stadia and Microsoft's Project xCloud.
They then discuss Ava DuVernay's Netflix miniseries "When They See Us" about the Central Park five.
Special: A Series of Correct Opinions Regarding 'Game of Thrones'
Michael's here to talk about Game of Thrones with Samuel. Come for the large amounts of rambling disappointment, stay for the perfect analogy with which to analyze all further media you consume: SMOOTHIES!
Ep. 38: Rocketman
The Elton John Musical biopic "Rocketman" is in theaters. Is it better than "Bohemian Rhapsody"? Yes. This and many more hot takes in this episode of the Culture Vacuum Podcast.
Ep. 37: Alladin and John Wick
We start, of course with your regular update about the fast movie world of streaming media. Afterwards Samuel and Calvin rant about the very bad 'Alladin' remake and rave about John Wick 3.
Ep. 36: Detective Pikachu
Disney sheds light on their Star Wars and Avatar plans, including release dates for the trilogy being helmed by Game of Thrones show runners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Samuel and Calvin also discuss Detective Pikachu, the first video game movie that may not be a complete pile of garbage.
Ep. 35: More Like Sonic the BAD-hog
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Ep. 34: Avengers Endgame
Samuel and Calvin are here with a spoiler filled conversation about Avengers: Endgame. It's the biggest movie ever so you've either seen it or don't care. Oh yeah, also Michael is back!
Ep. 33: Disney+ and Shazam!
Samuel and Calvin followup their Disney episode with recent news about their upcoming streaming service Disney+ and discuss Shazam and its impact on the DC Universe.
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Ep. 32: We All Fear the Mouse
Disney has now completed their acquisition of Fox Studios, ushering in a new age of Hollywood. Samuel and Calvin break down the problems with Disney as a studio creatively as well as the many issues raised by the Fox merger. If you've found yourself at all concerned or curious with the state of the Mouse House, this is the place to be.
Ep. 31: James Gunn, Google Stadia, and Jordan Peele's "Us"
Samuel and Calvin discuss James Gunn getting rehired by Marvel for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as well as the importance and potential of Google's recently announced Stadia cloud gaming platform. They also break down some of the meaning behind Jordan Peele's latest hit, "Us", including the social message and many, many layered metaphors within it.
Ep. 30: Captain Marvel
Samuel and new co-host Calvin sit down to discuss "Captain Marvel", its place in the MCU, and the weird nerds who somehow made it controversial.
Ep. 29: F@#k the Academy
Michael returns as a special guest. It was DC's year, the academy did some bad things, and a long and drawn out rant about why the world is burning. Enjoy, I guess.